UNDERSTANDING IONIZING vs. NON IONIZING RADIATION
To be clear, it is important to define radiation. There are thousands of varieties, strengths and wavelengths (including regular light). The the bad type is called ionizing because it can change cell structure. X-rays are of this variety, as are the UV radiation that you get at the beach on a sunny day. Of course, these are typically very low doses. Nuclear radiation, of the variety given off by radioactive isotopes, is the really scary stuff. It will mutate your cells in days or weeks. Any parent (or political leader) should be very worried about this type of exposure, especially for pregnant women, babies or preschoolers -- humans with lots of cell division. But let's be very clear. Electronic toys, TV screens, bluetooth controllers or headsets, microwave ovens or cell phones do not emit this type of ionizing radiation.
THE BOTTOM LINE: SHOULD WE WORRY?
In the meantime, there are plenty of real childhood dangers, with solid research documenting their disastrous effects. Exposure to junk food can start a lifelong battle with obesity and heart disease, and there’s a causal link between living in an old house and exposure to lead. Unlike radio waves, radon gas has been shown to be harmful because of the ionizing radiation (the bad kind) that it silently carries into your home from deep beneath the earth. The E.P.A. estimates that radon kills about 20,000 people per year. As for cellphones, the pediatrics academy warns of real dangers to children … when used by parents while driving.
There is certainly no doubt that the amount of radio-frequency radiation we all are exposed to is sharply increasing. Unfortunately, if there are harmful effects to the human race, it may take multiple generations of continued exposure to really know, and so far, we’re the first. Check back in about 2,000 years, and we’ll know for sure.
Did you look at the studies? What do you think? Clearly there's no shortage of emotion in this issue.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As people who study (and could be seen as "technology advocates") is there any conclusive evidence with the population we care about? Is the entire issue too new? I think all questions are fair game related to children and technology, so let's dust off the issue and have a closer look. As a parent and someone who uses technology all day, I personally am not worried. I have given my own children free access to all varieties of phones and technology, and so far -- no guppy tails. There wasn't enough conclusive evidence to convince me that there's anything to worry about. But this is my own personal preference. The important thing is to know all the facts about "radiation" so you can parse out your worrying energy wisely. If anyone else wants to pitch in or spots a study worth mentioning, please list it here.
Are Cellphones Harmful to Young Children?
Here are the links to the Gadgetwise post on Electromagnetic Radiation:See: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/are-cell-phones-harmful-to-young-children/
Electromagnetichealth.org
Food and Drug Administration
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Cancer Institute.
E.P.A. estimates
UNDERSTANDING IONIZING vs. NON IONIZING RADIATION
To be clear, it is important to define radiation. There are thousands of varieties, strengths and wavelengths (including regular light). The the bad type is called ionizing because it can change cell structure. X-rays are of this variety, as are the UV radiation that you get at the beach on a sunny day. Of course, these are typically very low doses. Nuclear radiation, of the variety given off by radioactive isotopes, is the really scary stuff. It will mutate your cells in days or weeks. Any parent (or political leader) should be very worried about this type of exposure, especially for pregnant women, babies or preschoolers -- humans with lots of cell division. But let's be very clear. Electronic toys, TV screens, bluetooth controllers or headsets, microwave ovens or cell phones do not emit this type of ionizing radiation.
THE BOTTOM LINE: SHOULD WE WORRY?
In the meantime, there are plenty of real childhood dangers, with solid research documenting their disastrous effects. Exposure to junk food can start a lifelong battle with obesity and heart disease, and there’s a causal link between living in an old house and exposure to lead. Unlike radio waves, radon gas has been shown to be harmful because of the ionizing radiation (the bad kind) that it silently carries into your home from deep beneath the earth. The E.P.A. estimates that radon kills about 20,000 people per year. As for cellphones, the pediatrics academy warns of real dangers to children … when used by parents while driving.
There is certainly no doubt that the amount of radio-frequency radiation we all are exposed to is sharply increasing. Unfortunately, if there are harmful effects to the human race, it may take multiple generations of continued exposure to really know, and so far, we’re the first. Check back in about 2,000 years, and we’ll know for sure.
LINKS AND REFERENCES: A STARTER LIST
http://www.thecellphonechipstore.com/cell-phone-radiation-and-children.htm <http://www.thecellphonechipstore.com/cell-phone-radiation-and-children.htm>
http://cell-phone-dangers.blogspot.com/2009/03/fertility-children-and-cell-phone-use.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwmpdFJijn8 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwmpdFJijn8>
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=qFaYh9eAk4kC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=cellphone+radiation+risk+children&ots=5BGXskA0D6&sig=diyK0DVdtFiGt_pIU-Kl2WRU86A
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?arnumber=1077792
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110575463/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
http://cprnews.com/articles/abc/CPR-News--Cell-Phone-Radiation-Effects-Brain-Tumors--and-Children.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health
And also here is a list of the levels of each brand of phone -- http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/
Did you look at the studies? What do you think? Clearly there's no shortage of emotion in this issue.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As people who study (and could be seen as "technology advocates") is there any conclusive evidence with the population we care about? Is the entire issue too new? I think all questions are fair game related to children and technology, so let's dust off the issue and have a closer look. As a parent and someone who uses technology all day, I personally am not worried. I have given my own children free access to all varieties of phones and technology, and so far -- no guppy tails. There wasn't enough conclusive evidence to convince me that there's anything to worry about. But this is my own personal preference. The important thing is to know all the facts about "radiation" so you can parse out your worrying energy wisely. If anyone else wants to pitch in or spots a study worth mentioning, please list it here.